King Edward VI Five Ways School

Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of KING EDWARD VI ACADEMY TRUST BIRMINGHAM

Scotland Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 4BT

0121 475 3535 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 28 November 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths97%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 88 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 98% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,324Room for 1,320 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,298 in 2019, 1,292 in 2021, 1,305 in 2022, 1,305 in 2023, 1,301 in 2024, 1,311 in 2025, 1,324 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place2.1387 for 180 places, September 2026
5th highest of 87 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 98% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 28 November 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

223 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Birmingham comparisons use the 49 of its 95 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 46 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolBirminghamEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 3rd highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham.
Higher than 90% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 80% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham.
Higher than 90% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 82% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 7th highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham.
Higher than 78% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 74% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 57 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 9th highest of 40 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham.
Higher than 74% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 47% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 140 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 18th highest of 45 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham.
Higher than 51% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71% 65% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 5th highest of 49 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham.
Higher than 91% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94%said yes 75% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Birmingham figures pool parents at the Birmingham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

181 pupils in this year group.

97% — 51 points above the Birmingham average, and 51 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBirminghamEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 97% 45% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 75.9 46.6 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 7.4 4.2 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 96%This school 2023/24: 98%This school 2024/25: 97% This school England 45% 2022/23 96% 2023/24 98% 2024/25 97%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

178 pupils in this year group.

99% — 9 points above the Birmingham average, and 7 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 85%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolBirminghamEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 99% 90% 92%
School sixth form 85% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 8% 13% 13%
Further education college 5% 39% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% 1% 3%
Work 0% 1% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
99%99%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

193 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolBirminghamEngland
Average A level grade B+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 50% 30% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 78% 55% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 43.4 34.9 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 50 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 43.8This school 2023/24: 46.2This school 2024/25: 43.4 This school England 35 2022/23 43.8 2023/24 46.2 2024/25 43.4

A level subjects, 2024/25

28 subjects, 613 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 128 18% 52% 40%
Chemistry 101 15% 47% 30%
Biology 74 26% 53% 27%
Physics 55 9% 31% 31%
Economics 47 26% 60% 26%
Psychology 31 6% 58% 19%
History 30 23% 50% 23%
Mathematics (Further) 23 9% 35% 59%
Classical Civilisation 18 0% 33% 23%
Government and Politics 18 22% 83% 26%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 12 17% 33% 17%
Geography 11 18% 73% 23%
Design and Technology (Engineering) 10 0% 10% 10%
English Literature 9 56% 89% 23%
Computer Studies / Computing 8 0% 13% 24%
Music 7 14% 43% 29%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 6 50% 50% 38%
English Language and Literature 6 50% 83% 16%
French 6 50% 100% 38%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Drama and Theatre Studies, Logic / Philosophy, Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Religious Studies, Sociology, Spanish, Urdu.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

195 students in this year group.

89% — 14 points above the Birmingham average, and 10 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBirminghamEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 89% 75% 79%
Apprenticeship 1% 4% 7%
Work 14% 17% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
86%89%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

195 students in this year group.

89% — 20 points above the Birmingham average, and 29 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBirminghamEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 89% 69% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 70% 28% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
93%89%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Birmingham. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about 2 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered180
Families who put it first387
Of those, offered a place152 (39%)
Families who listed it at all1,380

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 2.1 · 2025: 2.1 · 2026: 2.1

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.

Admissions dates and schools in Birmingham

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBirminghamEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
90th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
22.6% 48.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
76th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.6% 1.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
91st highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.6% 15.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
60th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
23.8% 37.1%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 93 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
4.2% 8.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
6th lowest of 93 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.3% 24.1%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
7th lowest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Lower than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.0 15.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
6th lowest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Lower than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
1.6% 7.7% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.08% 0.24% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 4th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 94% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
20.1 16.1 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
4th highest of 95 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 97% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.8 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
70th highest of 94 state secondary schools in Birmingham.
Higher than 36% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
11.1% 14.7%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is King Edward VI Five Ways School's Ofsted rating?

King Edward VI Five Ways School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 November 2023.

How did King Edward VI Five Ways School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 97% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 51 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend King Edward VI Five Ways School?

94% of the 223 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend King Edward VI Five Ways School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is King Edward VI Five Ways School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 387 families put King Edward VI Five Ways School as their first choice for 180 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 152 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.